VIENNA ATD lays off whole force, seeks new rack orders

The company hopes contracts with Ford and GM will help it bring back workers.
VIENNA -- ATD Corp., which makes racks for Chrysler, has laid off its entire work force but is looking for new orders that would allow them to be recalled.
The Ridge Road company laid off its last 30 workers two weeks ago and now has 137 on furlough.
Dave Tyburski, company controller, said Chrysler hasn't been ordering new racks because of the downturn in the auto industry. Summer typically is a slow time and ATD often has summer layoffs, but not to this extent, he said.
ATD supplies racks to metal stamping plants to hold parts such as hoods, doors and engines.
Tyburski said ATD is negotiating new contracts with General Motors and Ford that would allow workers to be recalled.
ATD officials want to expand their customer base because dealing with Chrysler is difficult now that it is a division of German-based DaimlerChrysler, he said. The automaker has been forcing suppliers to lower prices, he said.
The company had nearly 500 workers when it moved most of its work force to Vienna from Austintown in 1995. It operated both plants for a while but now has just the one.
New car models: Tyburski said employment is tied to the introduction of new car models.
When new models are introduced or old ones are completely overhauled, the stamping plants need new racks. He said next year should be the best year since 1997 for rack orders.
When a new model is introduced, between 50 and 55 new rack types are needed, he said. Stamping plants need between 1,000 and 3,000 of each type of rack, he said.